Bucket wheel reclaimer



United States Patent 172] lnvcntor Richard Roj k 998,839 7 1911 Carleton52/726 Haarl m, Netherlands 1,617,085 2 1927 Spccht..... [3]] Appl. No.807,131 2,086,009 7/1937 Walkerm. 52/726X 1 1 Filed arch 13,19692,631,474 3/1953 Skovera 308/190X A continuation of Ser. No. 528,035,3,069,027 12/1962 Dischingcr Feb. 17,1966, now abandoned. 3,144,2788/1964 Pohler et al. [451 Patented 13, 1 7 3,250,401 /1966 Davidson [73]Assignee Hewitt-Robins Incorporated FOREIGN PATENTS S Cmmmcu 946,460'1/1 964 Great Britain 52/648 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey [54]BUCKET WHEEL RECLAIMER Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder I 7 Claim12 Drawing Figs. v Allorneys-John D. Boas and Chester E. Martine [52]US. Cl 198/36,

198/21 1; 126, 308/182; 190, 52/726, 214/10. 37/19 ABSTRACT: A bucketreclaiming machine of the type having [51] Int. Cl ..Bg 65/28, a bridgewhich is advanced toward the material to be F160 33/ 61 reclaimed. Thebucket wheel is rotatably supported by an an- [50] Field olSearch 214/:nulm. bearing which encircles the bridge. The bearing is 198/36,103,211, 126; 37/189, 190, 308/1 formed of continuous inner and outerconcentric races. The

2 Z38/(lnqu1mml 53/726 648(lnqured) wheel is connected to the outer raceand the inner race is sup- 1 R re en es Cited ported on a movablecarriage. The wheel drive means extends e r c between the carriage andthe outer race. The bridge is formed UNITED STATES PATENTS of separablesections which can be tilted with respect to each 708.583 9/ 1902 Powell37/70 other sufficiently to permit passage of the bearing races 8 /l mnn /1 X between the sections ofthe bridge lO //////////////1 k 36 76 7O2a 74 i 40 2 l Y I I 44 46 ///4 //,/./////1 KKQ) I 7 52 5O 48 PatentedOct. 13, 1970 3,533,497

Sheet 1 of 4 Fig. I I-NVENTOR.

RICHARD .ROJEWSKI ATTOREY Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet m m \\\K\ 2 1 M 70 0 e 4 w 3 4 7 M Fig. 4

INVENTOR. ROJEWSKI RICHARD ATTORNE Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet 3 of4INVENTOR. RICHARD .ROJEWSKI ATTORNE Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,497

v F ig. l2 INVENTOR. Fig. II RICHARD ROJEWSKI BUCKET WHEEL RECLAIMERThis is a continuation of application Ser. No. 528,035,'filed Feb. 17,1966 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a bucket wheel reclaiming machine and inparticular to a means for supporting a digging wheel for rotation in avertical plane.

The known arrangements for mounting a bucket wheel include those inwhich the wheels are centrally pivoted on a shaft mounted on bearingsand those in which the wheel comprises an annular structure supported byrollers within the inner periphery of said structure. The latter typehas the advantage of requiring only a single conveyor means passingaxially through the digging wheel for conveying material' dischargedfrom the wheel to the sides of piles of material being reclaimed andonly one transfer point is required. However, digging wheels of thelatter type must be quite large in diameter in order to accommodate theaxial conveyor and the wheel supporting means within the periphery ofthe wheel as well as, in many instances, the truss which supports thewheel and its traversing carriage.

When the wheel is supported on a central shaft auxiliary materialtransfer means mustbe used to transfer the material from the wheel to abridge or boom mounted conveyor. Thus, although with this type ofmachine the wheel may be of a smaller size than a bridge encirclingwheel, additional structure is necessary for mounting the wheel, andmaterial degradation will be increased as compared to a machine wherethere is a single transfer between the bucket wheel and the bridgeconveyor.

One of the well known bucket wheel reclaimers of the type shown in theaccompanying drawing includes a carriage frame which is locatedconcentrically within the bucket wheel. The bucket wheel is providedwith circular tracks mounted internally of the bucket wheel which engagerollers mounted on the carriage frame. v

Often the rollers are mounted on equalizing supports and side guidingrollers are usually necessary. This known arrangement results in abucket wheel of large diameter having a significantly great mass. Thetraversing carriage upon which the carriage frame and bucket wheel aremounted must therefore be made strong, and as a result massive, and thebridge which ultimately supports the traversing carriage must also bestrong and massive enough to support the loads imposed; which aregoverned significantly by the diameter of the wheel, i.e., the wheelsize. According to this invention, the roller structure is replaced witha relatively light weight roller bearing which allows the bucket wheeldiameter to be significantly reduced and therefore a like reduction inthe massiveness of the bucket wheel. As a result, the traversingcarriage upon which the roller bearing and bucket wheel are mounted neednot be made to sustain as large a mass as heretofore and the traversingcarriage may be less massive than previously. The same is true of thebridge over which the carriage is moved; it is less massive. Thecumulative result is significant in that economies are realized in theamount of steel required and the time and equipment necessary to buildthe various elements making up the reclaimer.

In addition, since the bucket wheel is smaller in diameter, the bridgemay be positioned closer to the ground so that the bridge supports canbe made less expensively. Further, since the bucket wheel diameter issmaller, the forces or loads imposed by the bucket wheel on thetraversing carriage and ultimately on the bridge and transferred to theside supports are smaller in a considerable degree.

Another advantage of a small diameter bucket wheel achieved by thisinvention is that the wheel size may now be governed primarily by thereclaiming action desired, Le. bucket loading due to the specificgravity of the material being reclaimed and the reclaiming capacityrequired.

This invention also provides a relatively inexpensive bucket wheelsupport, i.e. the roller bearing, in which the bearing that maintenancerequirements are minimized. Also significantly, the roller bearingbucket wheel support according to this invention is more rigid andstronger than the known bucket wheel support for reclaimers, or diggingwheels for other uses.

An object of this invention is to provide a digging wheel mountingstructure wherein the size of the structure, such as the carriage andassociated frame or bridge which movably supports the wheel, can bematerially reduced in size and weight.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the weight and size ofthe bucket or digging wheel itself for the same capacity and service asthe known devices as well as the weight and size of the carriage and theassociated bridge structure which supports these elements so as to makeit possible to greatly reduce the size of the overall digging orreclaiming machine. This results in a substantial reduction in the costof such machine. For example, up to as much as one-third of the weightof the known machines of the type wherein the wheel surrounds the bridgecan be eliminated through use of the improvements set forth herein.

Another object is to provide a reclaimer of reduced size and weight forthe same capacity and service as known reclaimers, which has continuousmeans for providing rotative support for the digging wheel and thusprovide a support that does not have discontinuities which rendermachining and assembly more difficult and expensive and whichcontributeto rapid wear.

A further object is to provide a reclaimer having a wheel structure asset forth with means for removing and replacing the means for providingrotative support.

Yet another object is to provide a bucket wheel supported for rotationin a vertical position by an antifriction bearing means.

Still a further object is to provide a wheel support in which thebearing provides both vertical and lateral support for the wheel andtakes all digging and other forces acting on the wheel.

It is also an object to provide a structure in which the drive forrotating the wheel can be simplified and connected to the wheel in asimple and yet rigid and direct manner.

A still further object is to provide a wheel support and drive in whichthe inner race of a bearing can be fixedly secured to a carriage orsimilar support and both the digging wheel and a drive gear can befixedly connected to and supported by the outer race of said bearing.This provides a simple structure which can be readily fabricated,assembled and inspected and repaired, if necessary, yet because of thesimple manner in which the parts can be provided (machined, etc.) andrigidly connected, there is less likelihood of need for repair.

it is also an object to provide a rotative support for a bucket wheelwhich does not have central shaft yet wherein the bearinglike support ofthe wheel can be effectively sealed from rain, dust and abrasivematerials. Still another object of I the invention is to provide arotatably supported bucket wheel useful both for truss surroundinginstallations, as well as axle supported wheels, which is morestructurally sound, requires less maintenance and has an open centralarea which can be useful in facilitating discharge from the buckets andthe placement of conveying means in association therewith.

The foregoing objects and additional objects and advantages will beapparent from the following detailed description of the presentlypreferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a reclaimerincorporating the digging wheel and the supporting means thereforeaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 2,2 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an exploded partly sectional, schematic rear elevationalviewof an assembly including a bearing, bridge and carriage according to theinvention as applied to a reclaimer system and taken generally on line3,3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged detailed view, in section. of portionsof the bucket wheel, bearing assembly and rim gear schematically shownin FIG. 3, and is taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a rim gear forming part of the wheelrotating drive. I

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing the rim gear andbearing taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the same elementsshown in FIG. 6 but taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic partly sectional, rear view in elevation showingthe bridge, bucket wheel, rim gear, bearing and carriage andillustrating the manner in which the bridge is formed of sections whichcan be disengaged for removal and replacement ofthe bearing.

FIG. 9 is a detailed vertical section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view taken as indicated byline 10I0 of FIG. 9

FIG. 11 is a detailed vertical section taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a view taken as indicated by line 12-12 in FIG.

Referring now to the drawing: FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a reclaimersystem in which a rotary bucket wheel 10 is mounted on a self-propelled,wheeled carriage for movement longitudinally back and forth on thebridge or truss 22. Wheels 26 movably support the carriage 20 onlongitudinally extending rails 24 of the bridge 22 and similar siderails or tracks 21 and side rollers 23 guide the carriage 20 which iswell known. Motor means for moving the carriage on the bridge are wellknown also. As the bucket wheel rotates in the direction of the arrows(FIG. 2) it scoops material from the stack of material to be reclaimed(not shown) and delivers it to the bridge conveyor via a carriage hopper32. The hopper 32 is connected to or integral with carriage 20 and isthus fixed in position for receiving material from the digging wheel 10.The material, scooped into a bucket as the wheel rotates, is passedthrough opening 12 of the wheel to the hopper 32 and onto conveyor 30.

A wrap-around frame 34 which is supported on, and forms part of thecarriage 20, terminates at the hopper 32. The material deposited on theconveyor 30 via the wheel 10 and the hopper 32 is then conveyed to oneend of the bridge 22 and transferred to another conveyor (not shown).After each pass of the digging wheel across the face of the stack, thebridge member 22 carrying the digging wheel is advanced toward the stackof material for the next cut in a manner which is well known and formsno part of the present invention.

As is known, a harrow (not shown) which is preferably supported on thecarriage 20, moves over the face of the pile of material beingreclaimed. In fact, all the elements described above and their functionsare known in several specific forms and combinations in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly therein illustrated forsupporting the digging wheel 10 comprises a wraparound frame 34, ofsuitable construction, which substantially surrounds bridge 22 and isrigidly attached in any suitable manner to the carriage 20. The bucketwheel 10 is concentrically arranged around the exterior of thewrap-around frame 34. The wrap-around frame, as known in the art carriesmeans which, prevents material scooped up by the buckets from passingthrough the compartments 12 until a bucket and the associatedcompartment 12 reach the top of the wheel. At this location, the hopper32 is present which provides an opening in the wrap-around frame throughwhich material scooped up by the bucket wheel can pass to the conveyor30.

The bucket wheel 10 is both supported on the frame 34, and rotatableabout the frame, by means of a ball bearing assembly generallydesignated 36. The ball bearing assembly 36 preferably comprises aninner fixed ring 38 and outer movable ring 40 separated by a pluralityof balls 42. The races on which the balls bear are formed by circularrods or wires 44, 46, 48

and 50. The race rods 44 and 46 are preferably removably secured on theinner peripheral surface of the outer movable bearing ring 40. Theopposite rods 48 and 50 are likewise secured to the outer peripheralsurface of the inner bearing ring 38. It will be noted from FIGS. 4, 6and 7 in particular. that the inner bearing ring 38 consists of a pairof separable bearing ring halves 52 and 54. Each of these halves isprovided with one of the race rods 48 and 50, The split inner ring 38thus provides a convenient and ready means for disassembling the bearingso that a damaged race rod, or ball 42, can be replaced withoutreplacing the whole bearing assembly. Also, of course, reassembly of arepaired bearing in the field will require less time than field assemblyof a new bearing.

As seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the outer bearing ring 40 is attachedto the digging wheel 10 by a plurality of radially spaced bolts 74 whichare received in spaced openings 70, extending through the outer bearingring 40, and openings 72 in the bucket wheel which are coaxial withopenings 70 in the ring 40. Recesses 76 are provided in the gear rim 28to accommodate the heads of the bolts 74. The inner bearing ring 38 isfixed to the wrap-around frame 34 in a similar manner as best seen inFIG. 4. That is, by a plurality of radially spaced bolts 68 which passthrough coextensive openings 64 in each of the inner race halves,opening 64 is coaxial with opening 66 in the wrap-around frame 34 intowhich bolts 68 also extend.

As seen in FIG. 6, the gear rim 28 is attached to the outer bearing ring40, at the side opposite the bucket wheel 10, by a plurality of radiallyspaced bolts 60. The inner split bearing ring halves are removablysecured together as a unit by a plurality of screws 56 which arelikewise spaced radially about the inner bearing ring 38. As seen inFIG. 5, the various bolts and screws described above are placed ondifferent radii.

From FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 it will be seen that suitable seals for preventinglubricant leakage and excluding dirt and moisture, are also provided. Aplurality of radially spaced spiral pins 58, (FIG. 7) fitting tightly inaligned openings, are provided as shown for preventing relativerotational movement between the inner bearing ring halves 52 and 54. Thetapered pins 59 serve a similar function in that they prevent relativemovement between the gear ring 28 and bearing ring 40. Several pins 59are radially located in the gear rim and outer bearing ring of thebearing.

As seen in FIG. 3, the gear ring 28 has internal teeth 29 which engagewith a motor driven, drive gear mounted on carriage 20 for impartingmovement of the bucket wheel 10 through the outer bearing ring 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, l0, l1 and 12:

The bearing rings 38 and 40 are continuous and in the event that one orboth of these rings must be replaced, the bridge 22 must be providedwith a splice 63 which is capable of being open (FIG. 8) in order toremove a bearing ring. Therefore, the bridge 22 comprises splicedsections forming longitudinally extending beams 80, 81 and 82 showngenerally in FIG. 2 and in detail in FIGS. 9, 10, l1 and 12. The beams80, 81 and 82 are united by columns to form the bridge 22 in the knowntruss construction.

Referring most particularly to FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be seen that thesplice 63 is provided by terminating adjacent sections of the beams 80,81 and 82 with terminal plates 86. On beams and 81 plates 86 areconnected to horizontal plates 83 and vertical side plates 84. Plates 83and 84 carry the rails 21 and 24 for guiding and supporting thecarriage. The rails 21 and 24 are connected to the plates 83, 84 in anysuitable manner. The plates 83, 84 are braced as shown in FIG. 9 byadditional plates 91, 92 and 93 as shown according to structuralengineering practices. The terminal plates 86 which are bolted togetherat the splice 63 are additionally braced by a pair of wing plates 99welded in place as indicated in the FIGS. 9 and 10. Between the terminalplates 86 a sheer plate 100 is provided according to known structuralengineering practice.

The lower beam 82 of a boxlike construction is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12and at the terminal plates 86 of this beam wing plates 99 are alsowelded to the terminal plates 86 and the box beam sections as indicated.A shear plate 100 is also provided. see FIG. 12.

The end sections 22a of the bridge 22 are connected to the centersection 22b by the disconnectable splices 63. Not only do the splicesprovide a means for removing and replacing bearings but theyadditionally provide a convenient device for field assembly of shopassembled parts consisting of the bucket wheel, its drive rim and theball bearingring and the wrap-around frame.

The need for at least one splice resides in the fact that the ballbearings in rings 40 and 38 should preferably roll on circumferentiallycontinuous surfaces. The race rods or wires 44, 46, 48 and 50 and theirsupporting members 40,52 and 54 are thus made as unbroken annularmembers. However, this creates a problem: when replacement is necessarythese rings and race rods must either be passed over end frame 65, whichis impossible due to the size of the latter, or the end framebridgeconnection must be broken or some other method, which will make itpossible to enjoy the advantage of the bearing construction, must beprovided. As now indicated, the concept of the use of the bearingincludes the provision of splicing the bridge, and FIG. 8 illustrateshow the splice makes it possible to assemble and disassemble theelement.

Referring now to the latter FlG.: Blocks 200 are placed under thesections 22a and 22b adjacent the splice. The splice is then opened.Next, the end section 22a and its associated end frame 65 are tilted byjacking or the like to move the splice terminal plates 86 of the endsection 22a away from the plates 86 of the central section sufficientlyto permit passage of the bearing through the opening. The bearingmembers are detached from the wheel 10 and gear ring 28 and placed inthe position shown in FIG. 8 prior to blocking up the members. Thebearing can be supported by a hoist or the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed above, it will be understood that the latter may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described and thatin the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details ofconstruction and in the arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the underlying idea or principle ofthc invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus comprising a powered digging bucket wheel for reclaimingpiled bulk material which is to be conveyed, said digging bucket wheelhaving spaced apart annular side members, a frame, an annular bearingmeans rotatably mounting said digging bucket wheel on said frame, theimprovement in said apparatus wherein said bearing means comprises aninner and an outer ring means, said outer ring means having a first sideand a second side, said outer ring means positioned to one side of saiddigging bucket wheel, said outer ring means having said first sidethereof affixed on one of said side members so as to avoid interferingwith the radially inward flow of material from buckets through thewheel, said inner ring means positioned to one side of said bucket wheeland affixed to said frame, said inner ring means and said outer ringmeans having concentric surfaces with rolling means interposedtherebetween which cooperate with said concentric surfaces to rotatablysupport said digging bucket wheel on said frame, drive means comprisinga gear means affixed to the second side of said outer ring means fordriving said outer ring means and said digging bucket wheel relative tosaid inner ring means and said frame.

2. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein'said means for driving saiddigging bucket wheel comprises a ring gear means.

3. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said inner ring means comprisesa pair of bearing ring halves and means for removably connecting saidpair of rings togetherv 4. A reclaimer comprising a bridge truss, acarriage means movably supported on said bridge truss, a frame membersurrounding said bridge truss and connected to said carriage means, apowered digging bucket wheel for reclaiming piled bulk material which isto be conveyed, said digging bucket wheel having spaced apart annularside members which concentrically surround said frame, and annularbearing means rotatably mounting said digging bucket wheel on saidframe. the improvement in said reclaimer wherein said bearing meanscomprises an inner and an outer ring means, said outer ring means havinga first side and a second side, said outer ring means positioned to oneside of said digging bucket wheel, said outer ring means having saidfirst side thereof affixed on one of said side members so as to avoidinterfering with the radially inward flow of material from bucketsthrough the wheel, said inner ring means positioned to one side of saidbucket wheel and affixed to said frame, said inner ring means and saidouter ring means having concentric surfaces with rolling meansinterposed therebetvveen which cooperate with said concentric surfacesto rotatably support said digging bucket wheel on said frame, drivemeans comprising a gear means affixed to the second side of said outerring means for driving said outer ring means and said digging bucketwheel relative to said inner ring means and said frame.

5. A reclaimer according to claim 4, wherein said bridge truss includesat least one horizontal supporting rail for movably supporting saidcarriage on said bridge truss, said bridge truss being formed ofseparable sections and adapted to be secured together by a splice whichenables said carriage to be mounted for movement on said rail from onesection to another, said splice including splice plates being secured toeach of said sections and means for connecting said plates together whensaid plates on one of said sections are brought into abuttingrelationship with the corresponding plates on the other of saidsections, the rail on each of said sections terminating at the locationof splice so that when the two truss sections are spliced together asubstantially continuous rail is formed extending from one truss sectionto another.

6. A reclaimer according to claim 5, wherein said connecting meansreleasably couple the abutting plates together so as to facilitateseparation of the bridge sections for replacement of either of therings.

7. The reclaimer according to claim 4 wherein said bridge truss isformed of separable sections having rails mounted on each of said bridgetruss sections for movably supporting said carriage, structural splicemeans releasably securing said bridge sections together, said rail meanson said bridge sections being aligned when joined by said splicemeanswhereby said carriage may be moved from one bridge truss section toanother.

